Assam’s star Taekwondo player Rodali Barua, is a leading black belt champion in Taekwondo. She claimed gold at the All-India University Games in 2017 and went on to reach the quarter-finals of the Summer World University Games in Chinese Taipei.
A fine 2018 saw Barua triumph in the El Hassan Open and the World Taekwondo President’s Cup Asia region before winning the India Open in 2019. In the same year, she achieved a gold medal at the South Asian Games in Satdobato in Nepal. She is expected to compete in the women’s under-67kg. Rodali Barua is currently preparing for Tokyo Olympic Games.
Catch the Takewondo Champion, Rodali Barua in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Namita Nayyar
You started training in martial arts as a child & have been competing in taekwondo championships since you were in the 8th standard. Share the series of events that led to your participation in this sport & finally championships.
Rodali Barua:
At the first onset, I would like to thank you and Women Fitness for interacting with me.
I was a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2. In our school as extra circular activities, Taekwondo was one of the sports. In my school days, I was overweight which was around 90 kgs and my height was also higher than my colleagues, our school Taekwondo teacher/ coach Mr. Sukumar Nathapproached me to play Taekwondo. As at that point of time in Taekwondo there were very few participants in the heavyweight category and our coach most probably seen some hope in me.
As I didn’t like studying very much, to bunk my classes I started playing Taekwondo in School and hence my first step in Taekwondo has started.
In the following days, I participated in inter-school and district level tournaments and there was no looking back. I started getting medals in tournaments at different levels.
Namita Nayyar:
Share an insight into your early years in sports & how you balanced sports with your school routine? When did you train, number of hours, etc?
Rodali Barua:
I have already given you a brief insight into my early days. Gradually from District to State, State to National and from National to International level I started getting Medals and my journey in taekwondo is still going on.
In District level as I have earlier mentioned, there were very few contestants in the heavyweight category and I used to get a Silver or Bronze medal
Gradually I started taking Taekwondo seriously and with dedication, determination, discipline, and hard work I am what I am today. Still, a very long way to go ahead.
Our school hour was early in the morning and I reached home at around 2 pm in the afternoon, I started going to Taekwondo Training classes at around 3 pm for around two hours at the beginning of my career in my hometown Tezpur, Assam.
As I have started representing in inter-district tournaments and receiving medals Sports Authority of India, coach Mr. Dipen Barman approached me to join SAI, Guwahati as a resident trainee. After I passed my 10th standard, I joined SAI, Guwahati.
Our training starts early in the morning and in the evening for around three hours daily, Saturday evening and Sunday were rest days.
Earlier I mentioned that I didn’t like studying very much, but due to my mother’s constant perusing, I have passed HSSLC from Darrang College Tezpur, Assam in Commerce stream without attending classes and graduated from IGNOU in BA in English. Presently I am doing BPE from Maharishi Dayananda University, Rohtak, Harayana.
Namita Nayyar:
You shot to fame after bagging the bronze medal in the National Games. Participated in the World Taekwondo Championships held in Korea in June 2017. Again went on to win a Gold medal at the 35th National Senior Kyorugi and the 8th National Senior Pumche Taekwondo Championships held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. In August 2017, you represented India in Chinese Taipei at the World Summer University Games. Who was your coach? Your training routine all through?
Rodali Barua:
Failure is the pillar of success, I used to lose in the finals or in the semi-finals in the initial stages and that made me more determined to work hard and rectify my weakness. And Gold Medal in the National Championship in Visakhapatnam was my turning point.
I had different coaches in different levels and each of them has a great contribution in grooming me up in different levels up till now.
- Sukumar Nath Sir has introduced me to Taekwondo and started my basics without which I would not have been in Taekwondo.
- Dipen Barman Sir has given me my foundation inducting me in Sports Authorities of India, Guwahati and started on my fitness and initial training. At that stage my body weight was 90kg and was very lazy.
- Tamas Sethi Sir took over from Dipen Sir as he was transferred. Tamas Sir has groomed me in my fitness and my skills and because of him with constant hard work and training he made me able to be here where I am right now.
- Now Gautam Singh Virdi Sir is training me and he is fine tuning me with lot of hard work and efforts so that I can compete in International level at NSSC,SAI, Banglore and get medal over there.
My training routine is three times a day morning, afternoon, and evening for a minimum of two to three hours daily. Saturday evening and Sunday rest day.
Namita Nayyar:
You are a leading black belt champion in Taekwondo and won a gold medal at the 2nd edition of the Indian Open International Taekwondo Championship held in Hyderabad in 2019. The competition had players from 25 countries, including Australia, America, Japan, and Korea, and from 29 Indian states. How challenging was it? A memorable incident you hold close to your heart?
Rodali Barua:
All games are challenging from a different point of view. You cannot take any opponent lightly at any point in time.
One of the memorable moments of my career is when I was on the podium to receive a Gold medal for the country in the 13th South Asian Games 2019 and the National Anthem was played.
Namita Nayyar:
If I am right, you are a National Gold Champion with a ranking of 1, 7,53, and 74 in National, Asian, World, and Olympic ranking respectively. Success involves a lot of sacrifices and hard work. Share 5 tips with beginners who are immature in this sport and wish to compete.
Rodali Barua:
There is no shortcut in sports, to succeed you have to follow as below.
- Hard work
- Fitness
- Determination
- Dedication
- Discipline
Namita Nayyar:
Last Year, you along with another taekwondo player of the state, Dipika Hazarika, were selected to represent the Indian team at the World Taekwondo Championship in Manchester. You & your family’s reaction to the same?
Rodali Barua:
Every parent, as well as family members, wish to see their child standing in a higher platform or you can say fulfill their dreams but that incident was really heartbroken for all of us because when you are working so hard throughout the year for a specific tournament and at the last moment before departing for the competition you get to know that your visa has been rejected and you are not going to participate, that time has been really very tough for we athletes as well as our family. And at that time all they can say is it’s okay don’t be upset just keep working hard and prepare for the next one.
Namita Nayyar:
Your daily fitness routine? Any specific stretching routine you follow to prevent injury and stay flexible? How are you handling stress during pandemics?
Rodali Barua:
Our all training sessions are planned by our coaches and all the other supporting staff. I am very thankful to them that even during this pandemic they all are working so hard for us so that we can maintain our physical as well as mental fitness.
And coming to a specific routine as you all know that Taekwondo is a combat sport so definitely there are many chances for injuries so to prevent that I am mainly focusing on my strength training and flexibility as well, which is very important in Taekwondo.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you eat to maintain optimum nourishment? Foods you love to eat & 5 foods you keep to a minimum? Supplements you take?
Rodali Barua:
I follow the diet plan very strictly given by my nutritionist. And yeah it’s tough but I seriously avoid junk foods because my body doesn’t suit them at all.
I don’t take any supplements. My nutritionist especially prefers to suggest natural nutrients based foods.
Namita Nayyar:
Motivational Quote you live by?
Rodali Barua
This quote I am truly inspired by my coach Gautam sir which says that-
“If you lose say little and when you win say nothing.”
This means that after winning you don’t need to speak anything, your success itself says everything.
Namita Nayyar:
Your upcoming future plans & projects?
Rodali Barua:
I will go step by step, so for now, getting a medal in Asian Games 2022 is my target and I am preparing for that.
Namita Nayyar:
Message for your fans & WF followers on sports & fitness?
Rodali Barua:
Just keep working hard be consistent with your training and keep following the 3D’s rule (Discipline, Dedication, Determination) and you’ll definitely succeed one day.
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